Our Story

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County was born amid the turbulent swirl of the 1960s, and we had to cut our own path in a field of older, established institutions. From the beginning, we believed that a university could be innovative, interdisciplinary, inclusive – and great. We believed that ground-breaking research and a relentless focus on undergraduate success could go hand-in-hand.

We still do. To this day, our faculty, staff and students work and create outside traditional structures. We re-imagine and build. It’s not happenstance that UMBC had the first university research park in Maryland, dedicated to growing ideas into thriving businesses. And it’s not happenstance that we are consistently cited as one of the best universities for undergraduate teaching and a leading innovator in higher education.

An honors university is an institution that attracts motivated students and rewards them with all the resources and attention they need to succeed. Want to learn more about how we do that? Please do.

BONA FIDES

UMBC is a member of the University System of Maryland and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Carnegie Foundation ranks UMBC in the category of Research Universities with high research activity.

MISSION

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. As an Honors University, the campus offers academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. UMBC emphasizes science, engineering, information technology, human services and public policy at the graduate level. UMBC contributes to the economic development of the State and the region through entrepreneurial initiatives, workforce training, K-16 partnerships, and technology commercialization in collaboration with public agencies and the corporate community. UMBC is dedicated to cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility and lifelong learning.

VISION

UMBC seeks to become the best public research university of our size by combining the traditions of the liberal arts academy, the creative intensity of the research university, and the social responsibility of the public university. We will be known for integrating research, teaching and learning, and civic engagement so that each advances the others for the benefit of society.

MEET OUR PRESIDENT

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, has served as President of UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County) since May, 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Learn more.